Pilot Learnings | MMOW Customer Feedback

1) Delivery window: 3:00–7:00 PM

What’s changing: Deliveries will continue to run earlier, starting around 3:00 PM.

Why: In winter, many families prefer an earlier drop. Our route launches in O’Fallon, so nearby stops get served first; that lets us reach other areas right around pre-dinner time.

What this means for you:

• Please plan for a 3:00–7:00 PM window.

• If you won’t be home, leave a safe drop spot or text us simple instructions.

2) Order cutoff now: Sunday 12:00 noon

What’s changing: We originally moved the weekly order deadline from Thursday 5:00 pm to Saturday 12:00 noon. Feedback kept pointing in the same direction: “We need just a bit more time to decide for next week.”

So, we’re now extending it further to:

👉 Order cutoff: Sunday 12:00 noon

What this means for you:

• You can place or adjust orders any time until Sunday at noon for the upcoming week.

• After that, we lock in the list, so the kitchen prep and delivery routes don’t go crazy.

• Earlier is always kinder to the chef and the driver, but Sunday noon is your hard stop.

3) Distance & routes beyond ~20 miles

The original MMOW idea assumed a working radius of about 15–20 miles from our base in O’Fallon, MO. In reality, week after week we’ve happily driven to places like St. Charles, Fenton, Olivette, Clayton, and WashU – which are often 25–35 miles one way.

That’s a lot of solo road time for one tiffin.

To keep this sustainable and still support folks a bit farther out, here’s what we’re putting in place:

Extended Delivery Support (per trip)

• Up to 20 miles (one way): FREE - Included in your regular MMOW price

• 20–25 miles (one way): +$5 per trip

• 25–35 miles (one way): +$10 per trip

Or in MMOW language:

• Beyond 20 miles, our car starts asking for snacks.

• The extended delivery support helps us feed the car and keep prices fair for everyone.

We’ll always calculate this based on the delivery address from O’Fallon, MO, and you’ll get to know this when we communicate your CustomerID to you, and also if applicable, there will be separate line in the summery email indicating this amount for your weekly order.

4) Pricing & Value (Health First!)

How we operate:

• Health is wealth! What you put inside you is what you become. We all know not all food is made the same. Cheaper doesn't always mean better value!

• Our meals are cooked the same day, home-style Marathi, using quality ingredients and cold-pressed oils. 

• Portions are designed to feed two.

• Delivery is coordinated to your doorstep.

How to think about it: It isn’t a like-for-like comparison with typical dabba/restaurant boxes. This is a different model—fresh, cleaner, healthy, homestyle, delivered. We’re keeping pricing at the lower end of what this quality requires during the pilot and will keep listening.

5) Focusing on mid-week deliveries: Tue–Wed–Thu

One clear pattern from orders and feedback: Most people want help in the middle of the week, typically for 2–3 days.

Weekends have leftovers, parties, and outside food. Mondays and Fridays often feel more flexible. So, we’re aligning MMOW with that reality: Regular delivery days will now focus on:

👉 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Monday and Friday will generally remain closed for delivery, at least in this next phase.

This keeps things tight for the kitchen, realistic for delivery, and more aligned with how you’re actually using the service.

6) New option: À la carte 'dal & subji only' - (pilot from January)

Another strong theme from feedback: “We can manage rice and chapatis at home…but we’d love to help with fresh dal and subji.”

So, we’re introducing a smaller, à la carte-style option for those who just want the core accompaniments:

We’re piloting combinations like:

• Two subjis

• Two dals, or

• One dal + one subji

This gives you flexibility:

• Full MMOW meals on some days

• Just dal/subji support on others

• Or a mix, depending on how your week looks

Details (pricing and exact combinations) will be shown on the website, but the big headline is:

👉 You no longer have to order the full set if what you really need is just “good bhaji and dal to go with what we already cook.”

7) Special Items & Catering (pilot from January)

Starting January, we’re piloting two add-ons you asked for: Special Items (festival/seasonal Marathi classics offered on limited runs) and Catering (party orders for birthdays, poojas, and home gatherings). 

Special Items will appear a few times a year (pre-order, small batches, while supplies last). 

Catering requests will be reviewed case-by-case based on date, headcount, and menu, with pricing driven by same-day cooking, quality ingredients, and delivery/pickup logistics. 

These options exist because many of you wanted unique festive dishes and group meals—we’re listening and testing what’s sustainable. Watch the site for Special Item drops and use the Catering form to start a conversation.

8) Planning week vs. Serving week

We understand there is a lot on your mind and sometimes you may forget what you ordered. Here is a quick way to know what's coming your way this week. Weekly Menu page is your friend to know such information at any time. (see pic 1)

Also, Home page and Weekly Menu page will show information bar indicating what is getting served on a particular day in the current week. (see pic 2)